News

Finnegan Files First Petition for Post-Grant Review of a Business Method Patent Under the America Invents Act

September 17, 2012

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 17, 2012

Contact: Erika Harmon Arner, 571.203.2754 Partner

Finnegan Files First Petition for Post-Grant Review of a Business Method Patent Under the America Invents Act

WASHINGTON, DC - On Sunday, September 16, 2012, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, became the first law firm to file a petition for post-grant review under the new provisions of the America Invents Act (AIA), which went into effect on Sunday. On behalf of client SAP, Finnegan petitioned the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), to review a business method patent related to product pricing methods. Later in the day, Finnegan filed on behalf of CRS Advanced Technologies the fifth petition under the new AIA PGR provisions. Erika H. Arner, the head of firm’s patent office practice, stated “The AIA’s new contested proceedings provide some powerful strategic tools to resolve patent disputes and reduce needless litigation. We are pleased to be at the forefront of this practice. Given the unique nature of patent trials, we staff our teams with both experienced patent practitioners and seasoned litigators.”

Finnegan is widely recognized as one of the top law firms for handling the most complex procedures before the USPTO, with expertise in interferences, ex parte and inter partes reexaminations, reissues and appeals. Our far-reaching experience with high stakes Patent Office proceedings, coupled with our expertise in patent litigation, makes Finnegan distinctively qualified to conduct the post-grant review and inter partes review proceedings before the USPTO.